I swear by luggage organizers --- there are a lot out there but I really like the "packing cubes" by eBags. They're great! I've had mine for years and they really hold up.

I'd also love some packing cubes. A lightweight wrap that was both useful and attractive would be great, too.

My real wish would be for Verizon to support phone service in more countries!

I work with the US Snowboard team and travel all over the US in the winter. I have been a one bag travel person for several years now. I love Red Oxx gear, but am DYING for the Sky Train. As I age, I find the shoulder strap on my Air Boss really digs into my shoulder, so spreading the weight out over shoulder straps would be awesome!

http://www.redoxx.com/Trip-to-China-merits-praise-for-Red-Oxx-Gear/Sky-Train/91019/10144/Product

Love my TSA-friendly Timbuk2 laptop bag, may be giving one as a gift.

I'm splurging on a new Lodis computer bag for myself, I have loved my previous Lodis nearly to death. After 5+ years it's been with me for so many trips I feel like it has earned its own passport (double-thick, please, those visa's take up a lot of room).

But for a present-priced item, I think long SmartWool socks can't be beat. They stay up, keep my legs and feet from getting cold, and look cute when I have to take my shoes off for the umpteenth time :)

@ hrhprincessfiona - Totally awesome!

Bose Noise Cancelling headphones!

I second the SmartWool socks--practical enough to be useful, but cute enough to still feel like a gift. Packing cubes are also awesome--I like the Eagle Creek ones. If the recipient is a toiletries sort of person, small sizes of luxurious lotions and potions are fun. A lightweight, large scarf that can double as a blanket on a long flight is great. And if you know your friends don't have one but would enjoy it, there's nothing better than a National Parks annual passport to encourage you to visit all sorts of exciting places!

For families who travel frequently, easy-to-pack toys and activity books are awesome--think MagnaDoodles, self-contained art kits (as long as they don't involve a thousand pieces that fall all over the floor of the airplane), toys for hiking and exploring (like a bug jar or a kids' nature journal), reusable sticker scenes, that sort of thing. If you know a big trip is coming up, consider thematic books--Richard Scarry's Busy Airport kept my three-year-old occupied during long delays at the gate.

as a semi-frequent international traveler, often to developing countries, i LOVE my Steri-pen, which uses UV light to sterilize tap (or stream) water anywhere in the world. pretty sarongs are great from the beach (swimsuit cover or towel) to the jungle (lightweight mosquito and sun protection) to colder regions (as a scarf.) other super-usefuls, if not terribly glamorous: universal power adapters, compact travel blankets for long plane and bus rides, same for travel hammocks, army knives with corkscrews!

I wiSh for FREE international calling!!!

I don't know why anyone would want a backpack without wheels unless they were trekking and couldn't take the extra weight, and a zip on day pack included is a big plus. When I was traveling in 3rd world countries as well as on film shoots around the US, I had a great back pack w/ piggyback daypack, recently deceased, that I used as my carry on or single travel piece, depending. In those days I carried a collapsable extra lightweight luggage dolly and bungee cords, which strapped onto my pack and were invaluable. For some time now, the wheels are built in. You want to be carrying your pack when you're running for or getting on and off 3rd world transport, but not necessarily while you're looking for your hotel and could be wheeling it. Or you might find yourself in cities, in a dress, and don't want to look like a sherpa. And having the zip-on daypack, in which I packed my cosmetics for the plane but used for travel around wherever I found myself, is to my mind essential. For light travel, leave it empty for things you buy and bring back. I'm thinking of hitting the road again, so if someone wants to give me a gift, I choose this one. And it has a laptop provision.

http://www.rei.com/product/810508/eagle-creek-switchback-max-wheeled-convertible-luggage-22

Adapter for iPhone 5 - thinking about all those hotel rooms with iHome speakers...

Miles - so that I can pay for the flight :)

I totally agree about the packing cubes. HUGE help. I am also a big fan of a packable backpack. Eagle Creek has one, but these styles from Chico Bag are great too:
http://www.chicobag.com/category/backpack

I use a million little bags to keep my suitcase organized - I've had my eye on these for a while: http://www.etsy.com/listing/102006325/roxy-marj-spotted-soft-envelope

I received this traveler wallet as a gift and I love it:
http://woodandfaulk.bigcartel.com/product/w-f-traveler-wallet

When I travel I also like to have: a nice pair of headphones, comfy slip on shoes, TSA friendly lotion (airplane air makes my skin so dry!), eye drops, and some nut/cracker mix for snacking on the go :)

From Thailand to a three month long road trip to sleeping in the car on a road in Switzerland, I’ve found there are certain things that make adventuring easier.

Goo Tubes: Have you seen these things? Refillable, squishable, and pre-labeled they make taking my own shampoo with me easier and less messy. Plus, no more standing in the shower for five minutes waiting for the conditioner to slowly drip out of the cheap hotel bottles. (It’s worse than waiting for ketchup, I tell you!)

Noise blocking headphones: Noise cancelling for me would be ideal, but those are pricy and, frankly, a good seal between the headphone and my ear usually does the trick. My best friend got me a pair of Westone’s for my birthday and they are beyond superb. For airplane rides or ignoring that snoring co-traveler in the hostel bed nest to yours, headphones are a dream.

Keffiyeh or a good wide scarf: Head covering. Pillow. Sling for small goods. Neck warmer. Blindfold. Tying a backpack closed. Towel. I have used it for everything, and I’m pretty sure I will never, ever travel without one of these babies.

Olympus Tough: Let’s face it, as a traveler and general klutz, I can’t have nice things. I’ll get sand on the lens or go someplace too cold for the screen to function. Or, worse, get it wet and not have a bag of rice handy to absorb the moisture. Hence my owning a tough. I can take it anywhere, the beach (pictures while snorkeling), rock climbing (I’ve dropped it from 20 feet off the ground), and snowboarding (to prove just how uncoordinated I am). I can abuse this camera and it still won’t quit.

@mtbchik Thanks for the Red Oxx shout out! Just wanted to let you know that one of our customers figured out awhile back how to carry their Air Boss on their shoulders. They hooked another shoulder strap onto the D rings so it's crisscrossed on both sides of the bag. I'm not explaining it very well... I'll send you some pictures as a how-to if you'd like. Email me at: kat@redoxx.com.